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Cape Town - Bulls lock Wilhelm Steenkamp has been suspended for two weeks after he was found guilty of foul play.
A SANZAR judicial hearing on Tuesday found Steenkamp guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (a): Striking another player with his head, after he was cited following their 20-19 Super Rugby win over the Sharks in Pretoria at the weekend.
The hearing was held via video conference and heard by judicial officer Mike Heron.
In his finding, Heron ruled the following:
“Steenkamp made contact with the Sharks player (Butch James) with his head in an attempt to clear out the player from a collapsed maul.
“I found from the video footage that the player led with his head and contacted the Sharks player in between the shoulder and the head. From the video footage I found that Steenkamp intended to lead with his head and make contact with the Sharks player and that he was reckless as to whether he would commit an act of foul play.
“I was assisted in these finding by former professional player John Langford. I did not find that Steenkamp intended to injure the Sharks player nor did I find that his head struck the face of the Sharks player as alleged in the citing.
“I found that the action was in an intense and critical phase of play when the Sharks player was attempting to interfere with the Bulls possession. I was satisfied that the player gave evidence honestly and to the best of his recollection, and other than the findings made above I accepted his evidence,” concluded Heron.
Steenkamp has subsequently been suspended from all forms of rugby up to and including the July 20.
A SANZAR judicial hearing on Tuesday found Steenkamp guilty of contravening Law 10.4 (a): Striking another player with his head, after he was cited following their 20-19 Super Rugby win over the Sharks in Pretoria at the weekend.
The hearing was held via video conference and heard by judicial officer Mike Heron.
In his finding, Heron ruled the following:
“Steenkamp made contact with the Sharks player (Butch James) with his head in an attempt to clear out the player from a collapsed maul.
“I found from the video footage that the player led with his head and contacted the Sharks player in between the shoulder and the head. From the video footage I found that Steenkamp intended to lead with his head and make contact with the Sharks player and that he was reckless as to whether he would commit an act of foul play.
“I was assisted in these finding by former professional player John Langford. I did not find that Steenkamp intended to injure the Sharks player nor did I find that his head struck the face of the Sharks player as alleged in the citing.
“I found that the action was in an intense and critical phase of play when the Sharks player was attempting to interfere with the Bulls possession. I was satisfied that the player gave evidence honestly and to the best of his recollection, and other than the findings made above I accepted his evidence,” concluded Heron.
Steenkamp has subsequently been suspended from all forms of rugby up to and including the July 20.
